Editorial: reflections

by Deborah Collins, Patricia Maché

As the year draws to an end, we look back
at what this time has brought us. Some interesting and exciting developments have
taken place, as well as some loss.

The terrain of the mineral kingdom is now well
established and homeopaths world-wide are becoming proficient at prescribing a
much wider range of elements than ever before. The Lanthanides, pioneered by
Jan Scholten, are almost household names in many practices – possibly even
over-prescribed in some, as we search for the proper boundaries of newer remedies.
Time will tell – those patients who are touched most deeply in their being by a
good remedy will continue to be our guides; now as before, the proverbial “proof
of the pudding” remains our best measuring stick. To this end, Interhomeopathy aims to publish cases that have lengthy follow-ups. The Actinides are now
starting to become more known and used, thanks to the pioneering work of
Jan Scholten, which has been further developed by Margriet Plouvier, and Patricia Le Roux; a
fitting development in a time which seems to be speeding up and in which old
systems seem to be falling apart. [1]

Now that the foundation has been laid
through the mapping of the mineral kingdom, the plant kingdom can
systematically be explored – roadmaps are being drawn making this previous
jungle of remedies accessible for homeopaths. The work of Rajan Sankaran and
his colleagues is helping many to find plant remedies for cases that were
difficult to solve in the past. Another dynamic team, Frans Vermeulen and Linda
Johnston, have just published their four-volume opus on the plant kingdom: “Plants:
Homeopathic and Botanical uses from a Botanical Family Perspective.” Jan
Scholten, more known for his innovative work on the periodic table, has long
been exploring the plant kingdom and teaching his findings all around the world.
We await his book with bated breath – when asked about the date of publication,
the answer is inevitably “August 2006”! So, relatively quickly, this field is
being put to effective use, to the great relief of our patients and to our own
professional satisfaction. There is after all nothing quite like having someone
come back after several unsuccessful remedies, declaring with a big smile on his face: “That last remedy is the
perfect one, I feel like I’m reborn.”

Homeopathy is being applied with success in
agriculture and horticulture, and those with long-term experience in this field are finding each
other and comparing notes. This could prove to be of great value in a time when
more and more questions are asked about the way we treat our planet and all its
inhabitants, humans, animals, and the countless species which form
the plant kingdom. Having personally put to use some of the available
information on treating plant diseases homeopathically, we can certainly attest
to its effectiveness. Our peach tree, suffering from the fungus which causes curly leaf, responded well to Thuja; its
diseased leaves falling off and being replaced by fresh, healthy ones. Placebo?
I think not… It would seem that we are ever going beyond that which we thought to be
possible, stretching ourselves and being pleasantly surprised.

On Hahnemann’s birthday, April 10th,
Rajan Sankaran and his Mumbai colleagues opened the new Academy for
postgraduate studies, “The Other Song”, a centre which offers comprehensive
training to those who already have a solid foundation in homeopathy and a good knowledge of the Materia Medica. A team of
experienced homeopaths demonstrate, teach, and discuss, through live cases, the
sensation method with an eye to building a solid foundation for practice.

Amidst these exciting developments, this
year has also brought great sadness to the homeopathic community with the loss
of Patricia Le Roux of France,
who died in Paris
in September. A great light has gone, leaving behind her a legacy which
reflects the passion and the commitment Patricia had for her work and her patients. She will be sorely missed.

So, as 2011 is coming to a close, we are proposing you one of our “fireworks"
issues. It is truly wonderful to see how Interhomeopathy has grown in its ‘inter-ness’;
articles are regularly sent from different parts of the world, as well as from different
ways of praticing and methods. 'Tis the season for gifts, so we are also proposing
you some homeopathic Chritmas stocking-fillers, which combine usefulness and pleasure.

We wish you a wonderful end of the year and we hope to welcome the year to come, which will no doubt again provide excitement and reflection, joy and sorrow,
togetherness and differences, meaningfulness and interrogations, with all of you.

If this e-mail can get to Deborah Collins, I have just prescribed mancinella to a 12yr old boy, based on all sorts of ghoulish issues including his fanatic love of Stephen King books! Reminds me so much of the seminar you presented years and years ago about a remote village and evil - have the note somewhere! If this remedy works well, will submit it to the e-mag.
Also have a great 'Black Hole' case on the go too!
thanks always for a great e-magazine.
Sarah

The peach tree in Chinese symbolism stands for longevity and with Interhomeopathy, this wonderful resource we have in our world wide community, we certainly have something so very special. May the gods and goddesses smile down on your garden and from it our interconnected and developing journal continue to grow as we all do. Indeed, it has been a wonderful year and I look forward to many more on my journey with all of us on the winding paths we are taking to get to the best place we can. Thank you for your dedicated work, best wishes for the Season and a prosperous New Year.